Business, international

On-life support

Article Abstract:

The Bank of Japan is finally intervening to provide smaller banks with much needed financing. Smaller institutions have been plagued by a drain in deposits but have been denied access to short-term funding in the call market. Institutional investorshave also been reluctant to purchase certificates of deposit issued by smaller regional banks. The country's larger banks have their own financial problems and are unwilling to bail out their smaller counterparts.

House of cards: mortgage lenders face bailout

Article Abstract:

Japanese banks are in a crisis, which could lead to bailouts for mortgage lending companies. The first bailout has already occurred for Nippon Housing Loan Co, which lost 6.49 billion yen as of Mar 1992. Nine major banks have agreed to drop outstanding loan interest for 10 years to help the company. Seven other housing loan companies are in similar trouble.

Into the whirlpool

Article Abstract:

Japanes banks are in a crisis which will get worse due to increasing losses on loans. The average return on assets was less than 0.2% in 1992, while the average return on equity for major banks was 4.8% in 1992. Declining prices of equity and real estate are causing the loans to lose value.